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"Heh" he said. "Maybe I am old." He was a mere five years older than most of his companions, he was by no judgment an oldster, the age difference of siblings. He let Kurai out of his hug that he had her in. "Too old." He said, a painful revelation hitting him, he was too old, sure he had a crush on her at best maybe something school kids share, but at this point he realized it wouldnt happen. The pair had grown close the past months, they were like family now, he knew it wouldnt happen. The realization hit him with pain, but no more pain than he could suppress, it would all turn for the better though.

She said that she needed air and got up to leave, just before she got to the door Fulgar said "Kurai. Tomorrow we finish your training." He said it with steel in his voice and fire in his veins. She was so close to being as strong, if not stronger than he, tomorrow they would finally finish it. Though the concept of her completed training filled him with dread, he enjoyed having someone like Kurai around to talk to.

He put on his shirt, pants, and boots he walked to the corner and grabbed his scythe and the torn coat and walked out the door. Fulgar walked down the halls the intricate carvings meaning nothing to him right now, his mind was heavy. He made his way to the kitchen to find Kazuki already there biting into some food that he had apparently made, it all looked good, he wasnt surprised to find that there was no meat, though. "G' morning, Kazuki, you make all this?" He asked sitting down, "may I?" Fulgar asked as he grabbed a hot meat bun.

A thoughtful expression passed over Master Dyn's face as he regarded the question. "It is said that the ancestors of her village and the sister village on the other side of the mountain had great riches that where hidden away. In each village a noble house was given a 'key' to open the hidden passage to the treasures."

Stroking his beard again he stared at Taizen, thinking heavily before he continued. "It was this treasure that caused the destruction of both villages. A band of bandits saught the treasure and had gained the key from the other village and where in route to Niima's village. She had been lead out of the village by her brother the night the bandits attacked. Among the bandits where rogue water and earth benders. And it was these benders that laid waste to her village, seeking out the bearer of the key. Her and her brother had been seperated due to a pack of wolves hunting that night and in her haste of running she ran off a cliffside. She told me she woke the next on the beach on what was left of the village."

The elderly man took another moment of pause, watching the peaceful Niima. Eventually he would look back to Taizen, going to finish part of the story. "She found her way into a village days later where one of her village elders was being taken care of, his life hanging by fate's string. He had informed her of what had happened and asked her to run. As cruel as it is, the bandits where still hunting her down and had found her before she had the chance to run. She watched from a hiding place as they destroyed the home and the people within. It was only by chance she escaped..and ran into the brother that had lead her out of the village the night of it's destruction.." Slowly he shook his head. "Torrin..was the reason the bandits knew it was her. He wanted more then a village life. He wanted the riches. Even if it meant harming those that brought him up and his own flesh. He handed her over to the bandits who literally beat the poor youth to the brink of death. And when she refused to give the location of the key..they attempted to kill her. A stab wound to the torso area. And after stabbing her, they killed her brother believing that he had betrayed them. How she survived is fate's odd twist. But between then and now..it is a surprise she survived on her own as she has."

Closing the story the old man sighed and shook his head. "When she arrived here she was..almost a lifeless puppet. Her eyes where dull and her expression..so emotionless. She has gained some of her humanity back since her arrival however...she is well at 'pretending' to be cheerful for others. She is good at faking a smile. And to be honest when she first met you and your Master, I do not think she was intended on you making such a impact on her. You are the quickest I've seen her..smile for. Truly smile. There are few here she did that for. She laughs when she is with you. I've not heard her laugh since she was eight. Maybe you will be the one to help her.." Master Dyn seemed to get quite really fast after that, not sure he should even finish that sentence.

"She does help herself. But she's yet to grieve for her past. She's yet to shed any tears for her past. I've yet to see her shed a tear out of sorrow. Fear and frustration, yes. But never sorrow." The old man shrugged. "I'm sorry lad. I guess it really isn't my place to ask for you to assist her. Nor does her inner pain concern you. I am just worried that these recent events might have a ..darkened effect on her heart."

Master Dyn stood just as Niima made a small sound and rolled onto her side, curling into a ball. "I should take my leave. You look exhausted. I am sorry for being so chatty." The monk bowed his head and started for the door, patting Guardian's head on his way past the great protector.

Fulgar inclined his head in acknowledgment, he uttered a large thanks to him for the feast he had set out for everyone in the temple as he poured a cup of tea. Before the man could walk out the door Fulgar asked him "Kazuki, would you be so kind as to spar with my student? Her training will be finished today at which point I can teach her no more but a few experiences but you I'm sure have much to teach."

He sipped the hot tea it tingled his throat as it went down, as hot tea normally did, it must have honey or similar flavoring in it, it tasted wonderful. He ripped apart the meat bun in his hand with his incisors before continuing, "And I'm sure I could learn a thing or two from you as well." Nothing much, but it was about as much a comment of respect that he was willing to give to anyone.

"..." A darkened effect? It hurt to think that Niima had a dark side, the only time he'd remotely seen it was when he had insulted her about being an orphan, he'd exited quickly, but he could hear the thrashing of wind inside the room, she'd taken that very badly. "Thank you for informing me master Dyn." Taizen said, bowing, as the monk was leaving. Taizen looked back to Niima... So content... She had a side of her that had been traumatized, almost as bad as 'cain' to fulgar. The scent of food rose to Taizen's nose, and his stomach grumbled. He sat down the floor next to Niima, much like he had when he had been afraid she'd catch pneumonia, he'd just stay with Niima until she woke, she hadn't eaten in a while either... They could both go down to eat when Niima felt ready.

Fulgar finished his bun and swung his legs out. With a heavy thud his boots hit the stone floor. He walked over to the counter and grabbed a pair of plates, he moved down the table with speed grabbing and piling everything onto the plates that would fit, by the time he was done the plates were nearly 5 pounds each. He put them on one arm and grabbed a couple cups steaming with the hot tea that tingled his throat so.

He put his boot to the door and it swung outward, he moved down the hall reaching Niima's room, his hands were full of food so he hit the door with three loud booming hits of his square toed boots.